Free Prom Dresses For Sandy-Impacted Students

By Katie McFadden

The Prom must go on! As we kick off May, prom season is beginning and students impacted by Hurricane Sandy are getting a special event to help them with all of their prom needs.

On Saturday, May 4th, all students across the tri-state area who were impacted by Sandy, are invited to Prom Expo 2013. More than 600, like new and dry cleaned, dresses will be available at Beach Channel High School. They are perfect for High School and Junior High School proms, Sweet Sixteen’s, Graduations and other formal events.

In addition to dresses, there will be shoes, accessories and raffles. There will also be special discounts on services such as limo’s, hair, makeup and tuxedo rentals.

This special event is open to all students living in New York, New Jersey and Long Island, who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. Students must have proof of address and a FEMA number to enter. Students who attend local schools can also enter with a student ID.

This event is made possible by Staten Island nonprofit group, Where to Turn. The group held a similar event at New Dorp High School in Staten Island on April 6th. Where to Turn has partnered with Marissa Bernowitz of the Weekly Free Flea Market, who also collected and transported donations, and Beach Channel High School, which is donating the space for the event.

In order to make the event even more of a success, organizers are hoping that local businesses will donate gift certificates towards services to be raffled off during the expo. They’re looking for hair and nail salons in particular to participate and will take any donations, even at the last minute. So far The Blue Bungalow has donated accessories, the Blue Bungalow Spa has donated some of their spa services, Rocco’s is donating hair serves and Ciro’s Bakery is donating corsages.

If you would like to participate, make a donation or if you have any questions, call Where to Turn executive director Dennis McKeon at 718-966-6531 or email info@where-to-turn.org